JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Trey Starks came up short on a potential game-tying 3-pointer in the waning seconds and Lincoln University added a transition layup at the buzzer for a hard-fought 68-63 victory over Pittsburg State University Saturday (Jan. 23) at Jason Gym.

In a game of several scoring runs, the Blue Tigers (12-7, 8-5 MIAA) struck last to knock off the Gorillas (10-9, 5-8 MIAA).

Pitt State used a 9-0 run to pull even with Lincoln, at 45-45, with 11:23 to play in the game, but Lincoln countered with a 13-0 run to force the Gorillas to chase from behind.

Pitt State closed within four points, 60-56, on Trey Starks' three-point play with 4:32 to play, but the Gorillas couldn't get any closer until the game's final minute.

Josiah Gustafson hit a 3-pointer to make it a 66-63 game with 49 seconds remaining. Lincoln's Anthony Virdure then missed a 3-pointer with 17 ticks left to leave the door open for Pitt State.

Without a timeout, the Gorillas pushed the ball up the court and Starks managed a guarded attempt with seven seconds left. Aaron Spudich rebounded for Lincoln, who cleared the ball to Richie Lewis and he layed it up for a buzzer-beating basket for the game's final five-point margin.

Starks finished with a team-leading 22 points for the Gorillas, while Gustafson added 19. He reached the 1,000 point mark for his career in the game with a pair of free throws with 13:05 to play in the game. Gustafson finished the game with 1,007 points in 77 career games for the Gorillas.

Lincoln's Jaylon Smith led all scorers with 23 points, while Virdure added 12 points and O'Shai Clark chipped in with 11 points for the Blue Tigers, who snapped a 29-game losing streak in the series against the Gorillas.